document.write( "Question 132984This question is from textbook intermediate algebra
\n" ); document.write( ": 6. Solve using the quadratic formula:
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 – 5x – 1 = -7\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #97183 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2-5x-1=-7\" Start with the given equation\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2-5x-1%2B7=0\" Add 7 to both sides. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2-5x%2B6=0\" Combine like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Starting with the general quadratic\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the general solution using the quadratic equation is:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So lets solve \"x%5E2-5%2Ax%2B6=0\" ( notice \"a=1\", \"b=-5\", and \"c=6\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%28--5+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-5%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A6+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Plug in a=1, b=-5, and c=6\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-5%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A6+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Negate -5 to get 5\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+sqrt%28+25-4%2A1%2A6+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Square -5 to get 25 (note: remember when you square -5, you must square the negative as well. This is because \"%28-5%29%5E2=-5%2A-5=25\".)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+sqrt%28+25%2B-24+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Multiply \"-4%2A6%2A1\" to get \"-24\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+sqrt%28+1+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+1%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this solver)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B-+1%29%2F2\" Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So now the expression breaks down into two parts\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x+=+%285+%2B+1%29%2F2\" or \"x+=+%285+-+1%29%2F2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lets look at the first part:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%285+%2B+1%29%2F2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=6%2F2\" Add the terms in the numerator\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=3\" Divide\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So one answer is\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=3\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now lets look at the second part:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%285+-+1%29%2F2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=4%2F2\" Subtract the terms in the numerator\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=2\" Divide\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So another answer is\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So our solutions are:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=3\" or \"x=2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice when we graph \"x%5E2-5%2Ax%2B6\", we get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+graph%28+500%2C+500%2C+-8%2C+13%2C+-8%2C+13%2C1%2Ax%5E2%2B-5%2Ax%2B6%29+\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and we can see that the roots are \"x=3\" and \"x=2\". This verifies our answer
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